Photographic developing device.



No. 788,609. PATENTED MAY 2. 1905.

' G. S. SMALLWOOD.

PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.14. 1905.

ff S7 UNITED STATES Patented May 2, 1905.

GEORGE S. SMALLV OOD, OF N'EV YORK. N. Y.

PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 788,609, dated May 2, 1905.

Application filed .Tannary 14, 1906. Serial No. 240,990.

To all whom it may con/007111,:

Be it known that I, GEORGE S. SMALLwoon, a citizen of the United States, residing in New York city, borough of Brooklyn, New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Photograph-Developing Devices, of which the following is a specilication.

rlhe object of my invention is to provide a simple and convenient means within which photographic negatives may be developed so that the developing' of the image upon the negative may be observed, as in the nature of a dark room.

In carrying out my invention l provide a box or frame to contain the developing materials, negatives, films, and the like, on one side of which box is an opening protected by a glass or the like, in the nature of a ruby glass, and on the side of the box opposite said glass is a sight-opening provided with a mask or the like to be applied to the face to prevent the light from passing into the box while the operator is looking into the box, and said box is also provided with hand-holes protected by sleeyes to exclude light, whereby the hands may be passed into the box to manipulate the photograph materials, while at the same time the operator may look through the sight-open ing and see the operation of developing a negative by holding the negative while within the box between his eyes and the ruby glass without danger from the light striking the negative and in manner substantially similar to the operation in a dark room.

My invention also comprises the novel details of improvement and combination of parts that will be more fully hereinafter set forth and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved photograph-developing device shown closed. Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a. perspective view showing the device for use. Fig. 4 is a crosssection on the line /1 f1 in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 5 5 in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a detail section on the line 6 6 in Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a similar view on the line 7 7 in Fig. 1, and Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view showing the manner of connecting a sleeve or mask to the side of the box.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

ln the preferred form of my invention l make the main box in two telescoping sections 1 2, the lower sectionl being in the form of a box without a top and the upper section 2 in similar form, butinverted. As shown in the drawings, the section 2 is adapted to fit within section 1 and to be lowered therein, as in Figs. 1 and 2, and to be elevated, as in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, whereby to provide increased space for manipulating thc development of photographic negatives, such as films. plates, and the like. The upper part of section 1 is shown provided along its edge with ali ange or rib 1,and around the lower edge of the section 2 is a similar iiange or rib 2, which iianges are in vertical alinement, so as to limit the outward movement of section 2 with respect to section 1, and thereby also to serve in excluding' light at the joints. Section 2 is shown provided with spring-clips 3, adapted to springout over the top edge of section 1 (see Figs. 3 and 5) to hold section 2 upon section 1 when raised, and by preference I provide a similar spring 3 at the upper part of section 2, adapted to iit under flanges 1u when section 2 is lowered within section 1 to keep said sections closed. The clips 3 3 may be in a single piece of spring metal secured to the section 2, as by screws or the like L1. At 5 are indicated tabs attached to the clips Fte permit said clips to be conveniently drawn inwardly from the iianges 1 and whereby the section 2 may be raised, so that when the lianges 1 2 about the clips 3 will spring out and hold the section 2 raised, as in Figs. 3 and 5. In one side of the box I provide a sight-opening 6, protected by a glass or the like 7, commonly called a ruby glass, or its equivalent, the section 2 being shown provided with saidopening and glass. (See Figs. 1, 2, and 4.) On the opposite side of the box. as in the wall of section 2, opposite the glass 7, is a sight hole or opening 8, whereby the operator can look into the box and through the glass 7. The opening 8 is shown protected by a mask or hood 9, which is preferably made of liexible material, such as cloth, secured at its inner edges along' the inner wall of section 2, as by a metal band 10, tacked or screwed to the wall in manner similar to that shown in Fig'. 8. At 9 are eyeholes or an opening in the front wall of mask 9 in the nature of an eyepiece, and at 11 are straps extending from mask 9 on opposite sides of eyepiece 9" to be fastened around the head, which straps are shown provided with holes 11L to pass over the ears of Ithe operator for convenience. By making the mask 9 and its straps 11 iexible the same may be pushed through opening 8 within the section 2 when the device is not in use.

At 12 are indicated sleeves preferably provided with elastics 13 in well-known manner,

which sleeves are attached to a wall of the box in line with hand or arm opening's 1a, whereby the hands of the operator may pass into the box through the sleeves, the latter excluding' light from entering' box through the holes 141. As shown in Fig. 8, the inner edg'es of the sleeve 12 are folded against the wall 1" and secured by a metal band 10", which may be held by tacks or the like on the inner side of the wall. The sleeves 12 being made of iexible material are adapted to fold within the holes 14, and at 15 are indicated doors hinged to wall 1", adapted to'close the openings 14, and thus conceal and retain the sleeves 12, buttons or the like 16 serving' to keep the doors closed.

As the flanges 1 2 keep the sections 1 2 from being pulled apar; when the device is opened for use, 1 make one wall, as 1", removable from section 1, which permits insertion within the device, when section 2 is raised for use, of the trays, materials, and negatives for development. 1n the example shown the wall 1" can be removed from section 1 by raising' it, and to keep the wall 1" properly in position upon said section, as well as to exclude light at the joints,1 provide tongue-and-groove joints at 17 18, and the upper part of wall 1" has a liange 1", corresponding to the similar flange on the other walls of section 1. At 19 are clips, shown secured to wall 1" at its upper corners and bent at right angles to pass over the edges of the ends of section 1, which clips may enter recesses in said ends, whereby to assist in keeping' the ends of section 1 from spreading. At 2O is a locking' device for keeping the wall 1" securely attached to section 1, which locking device is shown in the form of a spring secured to the wall, as by screws 21, and provided with a hole receiving' a pin 22` entering the bottom of section 1, (see Figs. 1 and 7,) whereby when wall 1"is to be removed the spring 2O is pulled outwardly free from f pin 22 and whereby when the wall 1" is lowered to its working position said spring' will snap over the pin 22.

To connect the sections 1 2 together, the wall1"islirstremoved. Then section2isplaced in front of the side opening in section 1 and slid laterally into said section. The mask or hood 9 and its straps are pushed within scction 2, as in Fig'. 2, and then the wall 1" is slid back into place. The sleeves 12maythen be folded within the space between the doors 15 and section 2 and said doors closed. The device will then be in compact form, as in Fig. 1, in convenient position for transporting'. 1f desired, the section 2 may be raised, as in Fig. 3, the front wall 1" removed, the inner space can be lilled with trays, plates, a proper-sized camera, and other materials, and then the wall 1" replaced, the section 2 being' lowered, if desired, making' a convenient device for transporting photog'raphic materials and for developing negatives where a dark room is not at hand.

AIn using the device for developing negatives and other analogous uses the section 2 is raised, as shown in Fig. 3, which elevates the glass 7 and mask 9 above section 1. The wall 1" is removed, and the developing materials, plates, Sac., are passed within section 1. Wall 1" is then applied to the section, and the mask 9 and sleeves 12 are then pulled out, as in Fig. 3. The mask then being attached to the head and the arms passed through sleeves 12, the operator can look into the box, and the light entering through glass 7 enables the operator to readily see the negatives. He can then raise the negatives into his line of vision between the openings 6 and 8 to watch the developing 0f the image on the negative through the glass 7 without danger of injury to the neg'ative by the entrance of light, the hands being' free within the box to move the negatives and other materials about as convenience may require. When the negatives have been developed, the operator removes wall 1", permitting him thereby to withdraw the negatives from the device and thc other materials, if desired. By means of the mask 9 and the ruby glass 7 on the opposite `side of the box the negatives can be seen direct, so that two ruby glasses are not needed, for if a ruby g'lass were litted over opening 8 the operator would have to look through such glass as well as ruby g'lass 7 in order to watch the image develop, in which event the development of the imag'e on a negative would not be so clear and apparent as when looking direct through the mask 9.

By having the box made in two sections 1 2, with the glass 7 and mask 9 on the upper section and the sleeves 12 on thc lower sections, two advantageous results are accomplished: first, the glass 7 is elevated to a reasonable height above the developing-trays and the hands within the box have freedom for movement, and, second, the sections can be closed one within another, making' a device relatively compact for convenience in transporting.

My invention is not limited to the particular details of construction shown and de- IOO TIO

scribed, as they may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim is* y l l. A photog'raph-developing device comprising a box having a plurality of sections, one of which folds within the other section, means for holding' the inner section raised above the lower section, the upper movable section being provided with opposed sightholes, a light-protector over one hole, aexible mask at the opposite hole provided with eye-openings and adapted to fold within the section, to enable said section to move into the lower section, the lower section having hand-holes, and means to exclude light thereat, substantially as described.

2. A photograph-developing device comprising a box having a plurality ot' sections, means for holding the sections in extended position, the upper section folding within the lower section and being provided with opposed sight-holes, a light-protector over one hole, a flexible mask at the opposite hole provided with eye-openings and adapted to fold within the section, to enable said section to move into the lower section, the lower section having hand-holes, sleeves attached to the section at said holes, and means to retain said sleeves folded within their holes, substantially as described.

3. A photograph-developing device comprising a box having` a plurality of sections, said sections having respectively7 upper and lower coacting lianges, means to retain the sections in extended position, the upper movable section being provided with opposed sight-holes, a light-protector over one oi said holes, a liexible mask over the other hole having eyeholes and adapted to fold within the section, the lower section having hand-holes, and sleeves secured at said holes, substantially as described.

4. A photograph-developing device comprising a box having a plurality of sections, said sections having respectively upper and lower coacting flanges, clips carried at the ends of the movable section arranged to bear under the anges of the lower section to hold the sections closed and to rest on said flanges to hold the sections open, one of the sections being provided with opposed sight-holes, a light-protector over one hole, a flexible mask over the other hole provided with eyeholes, said box being provided also with handholes, and sleeves located at said holes, substantially as described.

5. A photograph-developing device comprising a box having a plurality of sections, said sections having respectively upper and lower coacting flanges, vertically-disposed springclips carried by one section to bear upon and under the flanges of thc other section to respectively hold said sections open and closed, one ot' the sections being' provided with opposed sightholes, a light-protector over one hole, a iiexible mask over the other hole provided with eyeholes, said box being provided also with hand-holes, sleeves located at said holes, and doors to retain the sleeves folded within their holes, substantially as described.

6. A photograph-developing device comprising a box having telescopic sections, one or' said sections being provided with opposed sight-holes, a light-protector over one hole, a mask at the other hole to permit observation while excluding light, the lower section of said box having a removable wall, said wall being provided with hand-holes, sleeves located at said holes to exclude light, and doors to retain said sleeves when folded within the holes, substantially as described.

7. A photograph-developing device comprising a plurality of box-like sections fitted one within another, means to hold the sections in extended position, the upper section being provided with opposed sight-holes, a light-protector over one hole, a mask over the other hole provided with eyeholes, the lower section having a removable wall, said wall being' provided with hand-holes, and means to exclude light at said holes, substantially as described.

8. A photograph-developing device comprising a plurality of box-like sections iitted one within another, means to hold the sections in extended position, the upper section being provided with opposed sight-holes, a light-protector over one hole, a mask over the other hole provided with eyeholes, the lower section having a removable wall, said wall being provided with hand -holes, and sleeves located at said holes, substantially as described.

9. A photograph-developing device comprising a plurality of box-like sections iittcd one within another, means to hold the sections in extended position, the upper section being provided with opposed sight-holes, a light-protector over one hole, a mask over the other hole and provided with eyeholes, the lower section having a removable Wall, said wall being provided with hand-holes, sleeves litted at said holes, and doors to retain said sleeves when folded within their holes, substantially as described.

GEORGE S. SMALLVVOGD.

Vitnesses:

HENRY D. HOUSE, E. L. SMALLwooD. 

